Long Head Research Articles

Virtual craniometry using the skull anatomy program

Craniometric studies were carried out on mature male skulls of the 2nd period using the original Skull anatomy program. Depending on the transverse-longitudinal index, all skulls were distributed into 3 forms: brachycrania, mesocrania and dolichocrania. With a transverse-longitudinal index of 74.9 or less, dolichocrania was determined, from 75.0 to 79.9 – mesocrania, with a cranial index of 80.0 or more – brachycrania. When measuring the transverse diameter of the skull, the lowest value of the dolichocranic skull shape was obtained, while in the brachiocranic and mesocranic skull shapes these values were higher by 5.9 % and 2.9 %, respectively (p 0.05). Statistically significant differences in longitudinal diameter were noted between the three skull shapes. The obtained craniometry results of the cerebral part of the skull show that the main parameters by which the shapes of the skulls differ in males of mature age of the second period are the transverse and longitudinal diameters of the skull and the length of its base.

Breed-Specific Skull Morphology Reveals Insights into Canine Optic Chiasm Positioning and Orbital Structure through 3D CT Scan Analysis.

This study's CT scan-based morphometric analysis of 50 adult dogs explored the relationship between skull shape variations (determined by the skull index, SI), optic chiasm, optic canals, and orbital shape. Dogs were classified as brachycephalic (SI ≥ 59), mesocephalic (SI ≥ 51 but <59), and dolichocephalic (SI < 51). No significant age or weight differences were observed. Skull lengths (brachycephalic: 11.39 ± 1.76 cm, mesocephalic: 15.00 ± 2.96 cm, dolichocephalic: 17.96 ± 3.44 cm) and facial lengths (brachycephalic: 3.63 ± 1.00 cm, mesocephalic: 6.46 ± 1.55 cm, dolichocephalic: 8.23 ± 1.03 cm) varied significantly, with shorter orbital depths (brachycephalic: 2.58 ± 0.42 cm, mesocephalic: 3.19 ± 0.65 cm, dolichocephalic: 3.61 ± 0.77 cm) in brachycephalic dogs. The optic chiasm-to-inion horizontal length ratio to cranial horizontal length positively correlated with the SI (r = 0.883, p < 0.001), while the ratio to neurocranial length showed no SI correlation (range: 55.5-75.0). Brachycephalic breeds had a significantly wider optic canal angle (93.74 ± 16.00°), along with broader lacrimal-zygomatic and zygomatic frontal process angles. These findings highlight the zygomatic bone's role in influencing breed-specific orbital variations by connecting the face to the neurocranium, projecting the orbital rim outward and forward with facial shortening.

Study of Cephalic Index and its correlation with Sex and Race in Central India

The technique of expressing quantitatively the form of the human body, living or dead and also skeleton is anthropometry. In the world, all human beings belong to the same species, Homo sapiens. Any two individuals are not the same in all their measurable traits, even there are differences in the genetically identical twins in some respects. For estimating sex and race, cephalofacial measurements and indices are useful like the cephalic index or cranial index. 3-4 racial groups are organized by anthropologists based on skull categorization methods. India falls in this craniofacial measurements group's as considered by Thomas Huxley. Asian skulls are brachycephalic with wide faces having flat supranasal regions and facial flatness. Craniofacial type of Australoids fall between Negroids and Caucasoids. The study was conducted on 196 medical students (92 males and 104 females). Hardlika's method was used to measure the cephalic index. The mean cephalic index was 79.71 ± 4.55 in males and in females it was 83.14 ± 7.69. Irrespective of gender the mean cephalic index of overall study was found to be 81.53 ± 6.62. Based on cephalic index, 45.65% males were dolicocephalic, 31.52% mesocephalic, 15.22% brachycephalic and 7.61% hyperbrachycephalic. In females, 46.15% were dolicocephalic, 33.65% mesocephalic, 10.58% brachycephalic and 9.62% hyperbrachycephalic.

Heart rate variability and vasovagal tone index in brachycephalic dogs.

Brachycephalic breeds of dogs, most of which show signs of the brachycephalic syndrome may have greater parasympathetic stimulation than other breeds, leading to higher values of heart rate variability and vagal tone index. The aim of this study was to establish a computerized electrocardiographic study and an assessment of the vagus sympathetic balance through heart rate variability and vagal tone index of five brachycephalic breeds compared to mesocephalic dogs. Sixty dogs were used, divided into groups made up of Boxers, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih-Tzu and no defined breed mesocephalic dogs. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's test or ANOVA and Bonferroni (p<0.05). In the evaluation of vagal sympathetic balance among all the dogs, there was a negative correlation between heart rate and HRV 10RR (r = - 0.7678; p < 0.0001), HRV 20RR (r = - 0.8548, p < 0.0001) and VVTI (r = - 0.2770; p = 0.0321). It can therefore be concluded that the dog's breed and morphology did not alter its electrocardiographic parameters or heart rate variability. The vagal tone index, which in other studies differed in brachycephalic dogs, showed no difference when compared separately in brachycephalic breeds.

Anthropometric investigation of cephalic parameters for stature estimation: Through regression analysis.

Stature or body height is one of the most important and useful anthropometric parameters which determines the physical identity of an individual. Cranium encompasses hard tissue components with approximately immortal behavior, reason being cranial measurements were selected for the present study for estimation of stature. This investigation aimed to assess the stature of unknown using cephalometric parameters by creating equations through regression analysis. We selected 361 dental students for the present research; among them, 210 were females and 151 were males in the age range of 21-32 years. Stature and cephalic parameters, i.e., fronto-occipital circumference, head length, and head breadth were measured for each contributor following standard methods and techniques. Cephalic Index was calculated by using the formula: Cephalic Index (CI) = (Head width/Head length) ×100. Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient of stature with cephalic parameters was calculated, and regression analysis was done to generate the formulae for stature estimation. Results indicated that all cephalic measurements have strong correlation with stature, and among them, circumference of head was found to be the most reliable predictor. Stature of unknown or deceased can be identified using cephalic parameters as an auxiliary practice.

Relationship between Etiology and Radiological Findings in Case of Moderate and Severe Head Injury Patients.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) or head injury is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability in the world. The common causes of TBI are usually motor vehicle accident, fall and physical assault. Methodology: This was a prospective cohort study to find out the relationship between etiology and the radiological findings in moderate and severe head injury patients. The places of the study were the Neurosurgery department of Sylhet M A G Osmani Medical College Hospital, Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital (SWMCH) and King Faisal Hospital (KFH), Taif, KSA. The Sample size was 104. The study period was 3 years (July 2021 to December 2022). On the basis of radiological findings, the participants were divided into three groups or arms. The different arms were diffused traumatic brain injury (arm-1), focal traumatic brain injury (arm-2) and both (diffused and traumatic) types traumatic brain injury (arm-3). Results: Mean age was significantly higher in female (51.83%). Overall mean age was 40.28 year. Highest frequency (23%) was in the below 20-year age group followed by the 41-50-year age group (20.2%). Road traffic accident (RTA) was the commonest (63.5%) etiology followed by fall (21.2%). At the end of 1 month 68.3% of participants showed improvement. Conclusion: Post head injury disability is a huge psychological and financial burden for any nation or family. RTA contributes the major risk for the moderate and severe head injury

Neural network analysis of pharyngeal sounds can detect obstructive upper respiratory disease in brachycephalic dogs.

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) is a highly prevalent respiratory disease affecting popular short-faced dog breeds such as Pugs and French bulldogs. BOAS causes significant morbidity, leading to poor exercise tolerance, sleep disorders and a shortened lifespan. Despite its severity, the disease is commonly missed by owners or disregarded by veterinary practitioners. A key clinical sign of BOAS is stertor, a low-frequency snoring sound. In recent years, a functional grading scheme has been introduced to semi-objectively grade BOAS based on the presence of stertor and other abnormal signs. However, correctly grading stertor requires significant experience and adding an objective component would aid accuracy and repeatability. This study proposes a recurrent neural network model to automatically detect and grade stertor in laryngeal electronic stethoscope recordings. The model is developed using a novel dataset of 665 labelled recordings taken from 341 dogs with diverse BOAS clinical signs. Evaluated via nested cross validation, the neural network predicts the presence of clinically significant BOAS with an area under the receiving operating characteristic of 0.85, an operating sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 86%. The algorithm could enable widespread screening for BOAS to be conducted by both owners and veterinarians, improving treatment and breeding decisions.

Occurrence of respiratory tract disorders in brachycephalic dogs

Occurrence of respiratory tract disorders in brachycephalic dogs

Risk factors for glioblastoma are shared by other brain tumor types.

The reported risk factors for glioblastoma (GBM), i.e., ionizing radiation, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Neurofibromatosis I, and Turcot syndrome, also increase the risk of other brain tumor types. Risk factors for human GBM are associated with different oncogenic mutation profiles. Pedigreed domestic dogs with a shorter nose and flatter face (brachycephalic dogs) display relatively high rates of glioma formation. The genetic profiles of canine gliomas are also idiosyncratic. The association of putatively different mutational patterns in humans and canines with GBM suggests that different oncogenic pathways can result in GBM formation. Strong epidemiological evidence for an association between exposure to chemical carcinogens and an increased risk for development of GBM is currently lacking. Ionizing radiation induces point mutations, frameshift mutations, double-strand breaks, and chromosomal insertions or deletions. Mutational profiles associated with chemical exposures overlap with the broad mutational patterns seen with ionizing radiation. Weak statistical associations between chemical exposures and GBM reported in epidemiology studies are biologically plausible. Molecular approaches comparing reproducible patterns seen in spontaneous GBM with analogous patterns found in GBMs resected from patients with known significant exposures to potentially carcinogenic chemicals can address difficulties presented by traditional exposure assessment.

Effects of female hair braiding on selected facial Anthropometrics

Objective: Effects of heavy hair braiding on facial anthropometrics have raised concerns in recent times. These concerns arise from the potential impact on cultural practices and the implications for physical appearance and self-perception. This study aimed to investigate the effects of braiding on the soft anthropometrics in face and head among students in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 503 healthy participants, aged 19 to 25 years, were randomly recruited from an institution. Measurements of total facial length and face width were taken. A structured questionnaire was used, that contain anatomical, theatrical, and socio-psychological questions to evaluate the effects of braiding on the face and head. Participants responded using a Likert scale. Results: Mesocephalic shape was the commonest classification of the skulls based on cephalic indices. Relationship between age and facial parameters of the study population showed significant positive correlation (r = 0.17, p&lt;0.05). Majority of respondents agreed that face type/facial structure determines the type of braid (n = 138) and braid can pull the forehead backward (n = 102). Conclusion: This study will contribute to understanding the influence of braiding on facial and head anthropometrics among Nigerian students. This information can inform discussions on cultural practices and their implications for physical appearance and self-perception.

Effects of female hair braiding on selected facial Anthropometrics

Objective: Effects of heavy hair braiding on facial anthropometrics have raised concerns in recent times. These concerns arise from the potential impact on cultural practices and the implications for physical appearance and self-perception. This study aimed to investigate the effects of braiding on the soft anthropometrics in face and head among students in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 503 healthy participants, aged 19 to 25 years, were randomly recruited from an institution. Measurements of total facial length and face width were taken. A structured questionnaire was used, that contain anatomical, theatrical, and socio-psychological questions to evaluate the effects of braiding on the face and head. Participants responded using a Likert scale. Results: Mesocephalic shape was the commonest classification of the skulls based on cephalic indices. Relationship between age and facial parameters of the study population showed significant positive correlation (r = 0.17, p&lt;0.05). Majority of respondents agreed that face type/facial structure determines the type of braid (n = 138) and braid can pull the forehead backward (n = 102). Conclusion: This study will contribute to understanding the influence of braiding on facial and head anthropometrics among Nigerian students. This information can inform discussions on cultural practices and their implications for physical appearance and self-perception.

Mild and Moderate Pediatric Head Trauma in Italy: a National Survey

Mild and Moderate Pediatric Head Trauma in Italy: a National Survey

Systematic minireview of the craniocervical junction in dogs with and without brachycephaly.

To identify, quantify and compare clinical and concurrent imaging findings of occipital hypoplasia (OH), syringomyelia (SM) and atlanto-occipital overlapping (AO) in dogs with or without brachycephaly. A focused systematic search for literature was performed in the Web of Science™, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Both authors screened and classified the identified articles using EndNote and appraised the articles using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklists. The main clinical and concurrent imaging features were extracted and evaluated for coexistence of OH, SM, AO, and other imaging findings. Thirty-one articles were included in this minireview. For articles focusing on descriptions of OH, SM and AO, 249 dogs had at least one of these conditions, and 3 of these 249 dogs (1%) had coexistence of all three conditions. For articles focusing on descriptions of the dogs, OH, SM, and AO were identified in 552/19/11/11, 574/2/0/6, and 100/0/0/0 small brachycephalic, small non-brachycephalic, large brachycephalic, and large non-brachycephalic breeds, respectively. For all small brachycephalic dogs, the percentages of affected animals were 40% for OH (p = 0.01), 42% for SM (p < 0.01) and 7% for AO (p = 0.033). The number of dogs having AO and clinical symptoms is low (n = 5). OH, SM and AO are more likely to affect small dogs. AO might be limited to small brachycephalic breeds owing to the geometry of the craniocervical junction. Hence, AO alone might not lead to SM. In individual dogs, readers should carefully interpret the clinical relevance of OH or AO in the absence of SM.

Preliminary Evaluation of the Scandinavian Guidelines for Initial Management of Minimal, Mild, and Moderate Head Injuries with Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) has become the most promising biomarker for detecting traumatic abnormalities on head computed tomography (CT) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), but most studies have not addressed the potential added value of combining the biomarker with clinical variables that confer risk for intracranial injuries. The Scandinavian Guidelines for Initial Management of Minimal, Mild, and Moderate Head Injuries in Adults were the first clinical decision rules in the field with an incorporated biomarker, the S100 astroglial calcium-binding protein B (S100B), which is used in the Mild (Low Risk) group defined by the guidelines. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the guidelines when S100B was substituted with GFAP. The sample (N = 296) was recruited from the Tampere University Hospital's emergency department between November 2015 and November 2016, and there were 49 patients with available GFAP results who were stratified in the Mild (Low Risk) group (thus patients undergoing biomarker triaging). A previously reported cutoff of plasma GFAP ≥140 pg/mL was used. Within the Mild (Low Risk) group (n = 49), GFAP sensitivity (with 95% confidence intervals in parentheses) for detecting traumatic CT abnormalities was 1.0 (0.40-1.00), specificity 0.34 (0.19-0.53), the negative predictive value (NPV) 1.0 (0.68-1.00), and the positive predictive value (PPV) 0.16 (0.05-0.37). The sensitivity and specificity of the modified guidelines with GFAP, when applied to all imaged patients (n = 197) in the whole sample, were 0.94 (0.77-0.99) and 0.20 (0.15-0.28), respectively. NPV was 0.94 (0.80-0.99) and PPV 0.18 (0.13-0.25). In the Mild (Low Risk) group, none of the patients with GFAP results below 140 pg/mL had traumatic abnormalities on their head CT. These findings were derived from a small patient subgroup. Future researchers should replicate these findings in larger samples and assess whether GFAP has added or comparable value to S100B in acute TBI management.

Peculiarities of the parietal bones of the vault of the human skull structure and shape, taking into account sex and craniotype

The development of neurosurgery and the increase in requirements for the performance of surgical approaches performed through the bones of the skull vault lead to the formation of new requests for detailing and clarification of the craniometric characteristics of the parietal bones. The purpose of our study is to establish the features of the shape and other spatial indicators of the parietal bones of the skull of a mature person, taking into account sex and certain types of craniotype. The study was conducted on 130 studied preparations of bone structures of the head of adults from the collected collection of the Department of Normal Anatomy of the Kharkiv National Medical University, in the amount of 82 bone preparations, including isolated parietal bones, as well as 48 tomograms obtained during the examination of patients. The basis for establishing a craniotype is the principle of calculating the cranial index. For statistical analysis, we used the programs Statistica 13.5.0.17 (trial version) and Microsoft Excel of the corporate package MS 365. To establish the peculiarities of the structure and shape of the parietal bones, the following craniometric indicators were determined: the length and width of the parietal tubers, the parietal chord and the arch, calculated the curvature index of the parietal bone. The obtained data were analyzed for mature people of different genders and three established craniotypes. It has been established that brachycephals are characterized by an expanded and expanded form of the parietal bones, which is associated with the predominance of the transverse dimensions of the entire cerebral skull. For mesocephals, the most typical intermediate- average form depending on the values of the cranial index. Dolichocephals have an elongated and narrowed form of the parietal bones, which is combined with general changes in the cerebral skull. Additional linear parameters of the parietal bones are directly dependent on the established craniotype. The dolichocephalic type is characterized by maximum length values of parietal tubers: ¯x =18.43 mm (right) and ¯x =18.24 mm (left) with minimum width parameters: up to ¯x =15.71 mm and ¯x =15.02 mm. Representatives of the brachycranic type are characterized by the minimum indicators of the length of the parietal tubers: from ¯x =12.73 mm to ¯x =12.81 mm and the maximum indicators for the width - ¯x =23.52 mm (right) and ¯x =23.04 mm (left). The parietal chord, like the parietal arch, had a similar trend in the distribution of indicators, namely: an increase from dolichocrania to brachycrania. In men with a dolichocephalic type of skull structure, the average values of these parameters were at the level of ¯x =108.2 mm (right) and 107.6 mm (left) for the parietal chord, and ¯x =114.2 mm and ¯x =113.2 mm for the parietal arcs In men with brachycranic type, the parietal chord reached - ¯x =116.6 mm (right) and ¯x =115.8 mm (left), and the parietal arch reached - ¯x =127.8 mm (right) and ¯x =126.9 mm ( left). In women, a similar principle of size distribution has been established, taking into account a small, 2-3 mm, general decrease in indicators compared to men. The curvature index of the parietal bones was determined: the maximum average values ¯x =83.00-83.58 were obtained in dolichocephals, the minimum values were ¯x =80.56-81.64 in brachycephals. This indicates an increase in the curvature of bones in brachycephals, given that the absolute value of the index is inversely proportional to the degree of curvature. Thus, the obtained data indicate a stable relationship between the craniotype of the skull and additional parameters of the parietal bones.

VETERINARY CARE NEEDS IN KENNELS OF BRACHYCEPHALIC AND NON-BRACHYCEPHALIC DOGS - PILOT STUDY

This is a descriptive, observational pilot study, based on the results obtained by applying an original questionnaire addressed to purebred dog breeders, speakers of the French and Romanian languages, regarding the perceived need for medical-veterinary assistance in canine reproduction. 44 answers were obtained (24 in French, 20 in Romanian) about 167 (100%) bitches from 33 brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dog breeds, aged between 2 and 7 years, of which 75 (44.91 %) declared pregnant. The need for estrus monitoring by a veterinarian varied by group and breed type (68.62% of non-brachycephalic females, 41.66% brachycephalic), "small non-brachycephalic" breeds were monitored more intensively (90.90 %), https://www.uaiasi.ro/revmvis/index_htm_files/Artificial insemination was necessary in 49.33% of the gestation obtained (50.98% in non-brachycephalic breeds; 45.83% in brachycephalic breeds). All the breeders declared ultrasound confirmation of pregnancy, in brachycephalic breeds caesarean section was necessary in 45.8% of cases, post-phttps://www.uaiasi.ro/revmvis/index_htm_files/Artum veterinary control was requested only in 22.7% of cases, more frequently (37.5% of cases) to "large and medium brachycephalic" breeds (76.9% of answers). The puppies from the "giant brachycephalic" breeds were tested by a veterinarian, an aspect declared by 43.8% of the Romanian breeders and only 38.1% of the French respondents. Conclusion: Due to the type of research chosen, the results obtained in the present study cannot be extrapolated to the entire population of dog breeders, but it is a potential means of evaluating the needs felt and expressed by veterinary medical assistance in dog breeding.

Productivity characteristics and controlling factors of coalbed methane vertical well in a coal block of Qinshui Basin

Although a coal block in the Qinshui Basin is a key location for coalbed methane (CBM) exploration and development, the productivity of various vertical wells varies significantly. The productivity characteristics of 636 vertical wells were analyzed better to understand the effects of different variables on CBM productivity. Grey correlation analysis was used to identify the key determinants of CBM well productivity. The findings indicate that vertical well production is below average, with more than 50% serving as water wells. The production of the central well area is high in the west and south. Highly productive wells are significantly influenced by geological conditions, primarily located in areas with high gas content, moderate cover depth, high permeability, and elevated water head. The engineering factor that exerts the most significant influence on productivity is the rate of liquid level drop. Based on grey correlation analysis, the primary determinants of CBM vertical well production are permeability and cover depth.

Integrated Endoscopic Craniosynostosis Surgery and Cranial Orthosis Program.

Craniosynostosis results from premature fusion of the cranial sutures. There has been a continuous evolution of surgical correction techniques from an extensive open procedure to the minimally invasive technique. This novel surgical technique has never been previously done in the UAE and this article documents the experience of the first team to endoscopically correct craniosynostosis with planning, surgical techniques, and customized helmet therapy. A retrospective case series of 16 nonsyndromic craniosynostosis patients with unicoronal (6), sagittal (5), bicoronal (1), frontosphenoidal (2), and metopic craniosynostoses (2) was corrected endoscopically and followed up with customized cranial helmet. Preoperative and postoperative photography, along with anthropometric measurements were taken. The mean age of all patients at the time of surgery was 101 (90-117) days, mean duration of surgery was 70 minutes (38-129), mean blood loss was 120mL (100-150), and mean duration of hospital stay 4 days (4-5). No complications and mortality were reported. Mean number of helmets was 2 (1-3). Cranial index improved in all patients with sagittal and bicoronal craniosynostosis. Close cooperation with the orthotist ensured timely helmet therapy and accurate laser scanning documentation in head molding. This case series has demonstrated that endoscopically craniosynostosis correction is safe, effective, and reliable and is the first reported series from the Middle East. The authors believe that every patient with nonsyndromic single‑suture craniosynostosis should be offered endoscopic correction before the age of 6 months. The orthotist forms an important part of the Multi-disciplinary team, enabling successful outcomes.

Endoscopy-Assisted Craniosynostosis Surgery without Postoperative Helmet Molding Therapy

Endoscopy-assisted craniosynostosis surgery (EACS) yields excellent surgical outcomes by minimizing blood loss, operative time, and hospital stays. Postoperative helmet therapy (PHT), commonly employed for head shape correction, involves frequent adjustments, potential complications, and high costs. Given the rising cost of helmet therapy, reduced insurance coverage, and limited availability in low- and middle-income countries, understanding success rates without helmet use is crucial. The present study analyses the anthropometric results of the first EACS series without PHT. A retrospective analysis of a single-center series involving 90 consecutive patients who underwent EACS without PHT from 2012 to 2022 was conducted, with a follow-up exceeding 3years. The study exclusively included patients with nonsyndromic isolated sagittal synostosis, with 33 meeting the criteria. Craniometric measurements were obtained from preoperative, 1-year postoperative, and the latest computed tomography scans. For isolated sagittal synostosis cases, the cephalic index (CI) was calculated (CI>75 for excellent results, CI 70-75 for good results, and <70 for poor results). Collected data encompassed patient sex, age, and follow-up time. The mean age was 84.8±45.3days (2.79 ± 1.49months) within a range of 3-172days. The preoperative mean CI was 68±42, increasing to 76±6 1year postoperatively (mean difference+8±6.3; P= 0.0001). Seventy-one percent of patients achieved excellent results, 23% good (CI=70-75), and 6% poor. Reintervention was unnecessary. EACS without PHT demonstrates favorable anthropometric results, cost reduction, and simplified postoperative management.

Can my human read my flat face? The curious case of understanding the contextual cues of extremely brachycephalic dogs

Canine visual signals convey contextual and affective information to the humans. Besides previous experience with dogs, another factor that could hinder the efficacy of dogs’ visual signals is the development of such extreme features through artificial selection which directly affect the signalling capacity of dogs. Brachycephaly is one of the most prevalent extreme features in particular dog breeds. The exaggeratedly shortened muzzle region of these dogs not only enhances their ‘cuteness’ in the eyes of the fancier, but severely compromises the animal’s health and according to our prediction, it also may affect the way how human observers would decipher a brachycephalic dog’s facial expressions. So far, this question has not been investigated, therefore we ran a novel experiment where human participants had to guess the context of various communicative interactions with several representatives of a brachycephalic breed (Boston Terriers) and a normocephalic breed (Jack Russell Terriers). Participants were provided with short, soundless video clips and still portrait shots of the dogs in an online survey. We used four original contexts for recording the presentation materials: “Called by name”; “Play”; “Separation”; “Threatened by stranger”. Accuracy of contextual recognition depended on the type of source (P<0.001). Participants in general were more successful in the case of Bostons when the context was ‘positive’ (“Called by name”, “Play”), while ‘negative’ contexts (“Separation”, “Threatened by stranger”) were more likely recognised in case of Jack Russells. When comparing the valence of assigned contextual signals (P<0.001), Bostons were more often assigned with ‘positive’ contexts based on video clips than on still pictures. No such difference was found in the Jack Russells. While evaluating the videos and pictures, participants more likely based their decision on the face and tail in case of the Jack Russells, but preferred to use the torso of the Bostons for contextual information (P<0.001). These are the first empirical results about the potentially reduced signalling potential of brachycephalic dogs’ facial expressions. Our study showed that in the case of Boston Terriers, human observers tend to assign ‘positive, happy’ message to these dogs, and instead of the facial region, they may tend to rely on the body language of these dogs when interacting with them.